11-16-16 Gospel Communication
After coming alongside to bear their burdens, and having bridged the communicational gap from social to spiritual, we may move forward to assist them in understanding God's heart,mind, will and purpose for their life. The CONFRONTATIONAL aspect of communicating the gospel is an awesome privilege as well as a personal responsibility. In doing so, it is so important to be sensitive, yet bold. Blending those two characteristics together involves responding to the leading of the Holy Spirit and an understanding of the heart of man. When God gives an open door of opportunity to share the gospel, we need to be sure that we are doctrinally accurate, as well as sensitive to both the Holy Sprit and the one to whom we speak.
There are seven (7) doctrinal statements that need to be addressed From Scripture. Let's look at them in list fashion, with their accompanying Scripture references.
1. "In the beginning....."
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2. "God created man for His pleasure."
Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power:
for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and
were created.
3. "The fellowship of God with man was broken by sin."
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God,
and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
4. "Man is unable to please God."
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but
by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus
Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by
the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh
be justified.
5. "God sent His Son as our righteous substitute."
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that
we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
1 Peter 3:18 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always
to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of
the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
6. "The robe of Christ's righteousness is given upon repentance and faith.
Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks,
repentance toward God, and faith toward Lord Jesus Christ,
Isaiah 61:10a, b I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my
God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness..
7. "We glorify God by being like Christ in love for God and others."
Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is
the first and great commandment. And the second is like
unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
In this explanation of the gospel, note that he communication begins with the purpose and plan of God for mankind. Each step of man takes us further away from Him. His action of sending His Son to pay for our sin by His shed blood on Calvary enabled us to be reconciled back to Him through individual repentance and personal faith.
Isaiah 55:11tells us:
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:
it shall not return unto me void,
but it shall accomplish that which I please,
and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Therefore, when the Word of God has been given, God works in the heart of the hearer to CONVICT, CONVERT,
and CONFORM to Christlikeness.
(c) 1992, 2015 N. A. Collins
Limited copy permission for one personal file copy
There are seven (7) doctrinal statements that need to be addressed From Scripture. Let's look at them in list fashion, with their accompanying Scripture references.
1. "In the beginning....."
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2. "God created man for His pleasure."
Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power:
for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and
were created.
3. "The fellowship of God with man was broken by sin."
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God,
and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
4. "Man is unable to please God."
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but
by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus
Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by
the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh
be justified.
5. "God sent His Son as our righteous substitute."
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that
we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
1 Peter 3:18 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always
to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of
the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
6. "The robe of Christ's righteousness is given upon repentance and faith.
Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks,
repentance toward God, and faith toward Lord Jesus Christ,
Isaiah 61:10a, b I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my
God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness..
7. "We glorify God by being like Christ in love for God and others."
Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is
the first and great commandment. And the second is like
unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
In this explanation of the gospel, note that he communication begins with the purpose and plan of God for mankind. Each step of man takes us further away from Him. His action of sending His Son to pay for our sin by His shed blood on Calvary enabled us to be reconciled back to Him through individual repentance and personal faith.
Isaiah 55:11tells us:
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:
it shall not return unto me void,
but it shall accomplish that which I please,
and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Therefore, when the Word of God has been given, God works in the heart of the hearer to CONVICT, CONVERT,
and CONFORM to Christlikeness.
(c) 1992, 2015 N. A. Collins
Limited copy permission for one personal file copy